I‘m a few episodes into Netflix‘s The Last Czars and it seems as if Nicholas II was either not politically savvy enough to handle Russia‘s changing landscape or was surrounded by terrible advisers. What were the reasons or factors that led to his decision-making? Was he really that out of touch with the common folk as they made him seem to be? And was Alexandra really responsible for some of the terrible decisions that he made?

Have there been any reproductions of the Codex Gigas?

I'm really interested in this topic, but most of the material I find out there is either for a faith-based audience, or it is overly sensitive not to hurt the religious beliefs of Christians and Jews.

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The best I've found so far is Reza Azlan's book about Jesus "Zealot", but even then, it's hard to tell if the praise and criticism of his book is from Christian "historians", historians who happen to be Christian, or bona-fide respected historians. It doesn't help anything that many hardcore Christian apologists even have doctorates from or tenure at respected Universities! Oy! I just want good history!!

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Thanks for your help!

For denialists I mean those movements that consider that Holocaust didn't happen or earth is flat. I think in a way that when people politicize science they use more affect than reason. So, we ignore science for our own political beliefs. What do you think?

I had always thought that was a Confederate tune, but recently I read an account of the Federals playing it.

There’s a rock structure nearby where I live that looks too organized to be a glacial leftover, but I can’t be certain as to whether it’s manmade or not. Did natives even build structures out of stone?

I am under the impression that in the ancient middle east, chariots were extremely effective weapon. What made chariots obsolete?

So, I noticed that throughout the 1900s, mens clothing was fairly baggy. From factory workers to socialites, clothing was so excessively roomy. /r/BootcutBandit comes to mind.

I don't see how having baggy clothing was practical, if not an outright hazard in some cases (such as factory work).

Now, clothing seems to be more form-fitting.

So why is clothing less baggy now? Is it because of the incorporation of stretchier fabric in modern fashion?

Hiroshima was hit on 8/6, Nagasaki on 8/9 and Japan surrendered on 8/15...

The world changed that day, did they know they were nuclear weapons? Did anyone know the US tested one ? Did anyone know we only made three for the first round ?

There are a ton of old brick and stone buildings from the 1800s that are still going strong in the United States, and appear likely to last another century. On the other hand, there seems to be a lot of buildings thrown up more recently that don't seem be aging as well.

Have building standards in the US declined over time? In what ways, and with what ramifications?

Hoping for a response from a culinary historian. I figure that given the technology and varieties of tomato available at the time, ripe tomatoes should only have been available for a month or two. Canning technology was not invented until the 19th century, and took a long time to become reliable, so how did a chef in Naples manage to supply tomatoes for pizza all year long?

1. What was the conditions that led to the Russian Navy coming to the aid of the Confederates?

2. What were the major ramifications afterward resulting from this action?

What does the sphinx represents in Greek and Egyptian mythologies?

The only thing we hear about him is that he asks a question to which any human could find the answer once you know it, and eats the ones who fail. What does that teach to people? I thought mythology then was to provide morale to people?

Hello Historians!

I am looking for a book on “the” Migration Period, i.e. the time of migration in(to) Europe from the 4th to the 6th century AD. I am interested in the “simple” chronology but also a deeper analysis of its causes, consequences and most important interpretations within academia. It would ideally be comprehensive but not encyclopedic.

Also, is there something like a standard work that everyone in that field of research would’ve read?

Thank you!

Edit: specified which migration period

As I understand, during north African campaign in World War 2 italian and german forces tried to reach Suez canal. In order to control maritime traffic traveling through it, as well as opening way for taking Middle-Eastern oil fields.

My question is: Did during this campaign, italy tried somehow to block Bab al-Mandab strait? Considering close distance between Italian colonies and said strait. Wouldn't it have same effect as Italy/Germany taking Suez Canal?

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How did information about these trading towns disseminate so widely in the first place? And who would go picking up goods there? Wealthy individuals buying stuff for their individual households, or "whole-salers"/traders hoping to resell when they got back home? Both? Other?